Mail-bag closure.



PATENTED JULY 14,1903.-

0. A. MoKINNEY. v

MAIL BAG CLOSURE.

APPLIOATION IILED JULY 1, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

gully llll q Vihmooao v UNITED STATES Patented July 14, mos. PATENT QFFICE.

CLAYTON A. MCKINNEY, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO M. P. BRUMBAUGH, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BAG SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,914, dated July 14, 190 3.

' Application filed July 1,1902.

T0 in whom it may concern;

Beit known that LCLAYToN A. MGKINNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Closures; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in mail-bag closures.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for efiecting a secure locking of the flap of -a mail bag or pouch, which means shall be of simple and durable construction,and the invention contemplates the provision of locking means of decidedly novel construction over those ordinarily employed.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of locking means through the medium of which the flap of the bag or pouch may be locked and unlocked in an expeditious manner and without the necessity of adjusting and positioning the parts to the inconvenience of the person'using the bag. 7

The inventionalso contemplates the provision in the construction of a mailbag closure of simple and efficient means for rendering the mouth of the bag or pouch flexible when open, but inflexible when closed, and also further means whereby the hasp of the closure may be held either in open or closed position, so that said hasp is prevented from swinging except when it is desired to open or close the flap.

With these general objects in view and others which will appear as the nature of the improvement is better understood the inven-' tion consists, substantially, in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement'of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described,

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a mail-bag closure constructed in accordance with the present invention,the upper portion only of the bag being shown. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the flap of the bag being open. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view Serial No. 114,019. ,(No modeLl taken through the top of the bag with the flap closed. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the locking member. Fig. 5 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 6 isadetail perspective view of one of the pin-plates. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention, the bag being omitted.

' Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a bag or pouch, which may be of the ordinary type, and said bag or pouch has its upper end open, as usual. One sideof the bag or pouch is extended beyond the other side thereof to provide a closing-flap 2, and said flap is designed to overlap the open end to provide a seal therefor.

As before premised, it is the object of the present invention to provide means for effectually locking the flap 2 to prevent unauthorized persons gaining access to the contents of the bag or pouch, and to the accomplishment of this end the bag or pouch 1 is provided at one of its sides, on the exterior thereof and below the flap 2, witha locking member 3. The latter comprises a sectional guide 4, provided at its opposite edges with inclined flanges 5, each section of the guide 4 being so provided, and formed at the outer end of one of said sections is a transversely-extendingstop-flange 6 for a purpose to be pres- 8o ently stated. The sections of the guide 4 are each provided with a series of openings 7, and slidably mounted within the guide 4 is a sectional slide-plate 8, the sections of the latter being hinged together, as at 9, to provide for the fiection of the bag when the flap is open. While the sectional slide is formed of only two sections, it is obvious that any nu mber may be employed, and each section thereof is provided with a series of keyhole-slots 9o 10, which slots are disposed opposite to and adapted to register with the openings 7 of the guide 4'. In order toefiectually apply the guide 4 to the bag or pouch 1, the same is riveted thereto, reinforcing-plates 11 being 5 arranged at the inner side of the bag in order to provide a firm 1 connection of the guide therewith, and said plates arelikewise pro vided with openings 12, which register with the openings -7 of the 'guide4. j

Mounted upon the inner side of the flap 2 is a series of pin-plates 13, each of which is RCO provided with a tapering headed pin 14, adapted to pass through and be received by the openings 7 of the guide 4, and it will be observed that the length of the pins 14 is such that the heads thereof will project to a point beyond the outer face of the sections of the slide-plate 8, so that when said plate is suitably moved the elongated portions of the slots 10 will receive the shanks of the pins 14, and thus prevent the heads of the latter being withdrawn from said slots. In this position the flap is securely closed and locked, and until the sections of the slide-plate are moved to the position formerly occupied by them in closing the bag the flap cannot be opened. The side of the bag opposite to that whereon the lockingmember3is positioned is provided with a series of openings 15, adapted to register with the openings 12 of the reinforcing-plates 11, said openings 15 being also designed to permit the passage of the pins 14, and in order that the portion of the bag immediately contiguous to said openings shall be prevented from tearing said openings are surrounded by reinforcing-rings 16. In order that the slide-plate 8 may be moved within the guide 4, a hasp 17 is employed, the latter being provided with a bifurcated end 18, in which is pivotally secured a connecting-link 20, said link being also connected to the section of the slide-plate 8 immediately adjacent to said hasp, and the bifurcated end of said hasp is in turn pivotally connected to the guide 4, so as to be capable of the proper swinging movement for efiecting the sliding of the plate 8. It will also be observedthat the faces of the bifurcated end of the hasp 17 are flattened, and mounted to bear upon said faces is a pair of locking-springs 21, carried by one of the reinforcing-plates 11. Through the medium of this construction it will be observed that as the hasp 17 is swung back and forth the extremity of the bifurcated end thereof presses against said springs and forces the latter outwardly from said end; but as soon as the hasp has been swung a sufficient distance in either direction to carry the bifurcated end thereof beyond the effective point of strain of said springs the latter move upon the flattened faces of the bifurcated end of the hasp, and consequently by becoming thus positioned said hasp is prevented swinging until so desired by the person closing or opening the bag. I

This construction therefore prevents undue movement of the hasp, and consequently the latter is locked in either the closed or open position into which the same may be swung. 1

In order that the bag may be looked, a staple 23 is provided at the inner side of the flap f 2, said staple being preferably mounted upon one of the pin-plates 13, and said staple is designed to pass through and be received by an 1 eye 24, arranged adjacent to the hasp 17, the

latter being provided with an elongated'slot 25, which also receives the staple 23. When the hasp is swung upon the staple 23, a lock of any suitable construction may be attached to the staple, and it is thus obvious that the hasp will be prevented being swung away from the staple. The bag will therefore be locked, and not until the lock is detached from the staple and the hasp swung therefrom to release the pins 14 from the slideplate the bag can be opened.

In Fig. 7 is shown a modified form of the inventionybut the construction of this form is precisely the same as in the other figures, excepting that in lieu of forming the guide 4, the slide-plate 8, and the pin-plates 13 in sections said parts are each formed of an integral construction, and it will also be observed that the eye 24 is connected to the guide 4 through the medium of a neck 27 to form a part of said guide, the hasp 17 being pivoted upon said neck. In this form the reinforcingplates 11 are also formed as an integral con struction, the springs 21 being fixed to said plates as in the other form. It will also be noted that the fastener shown in Fig. 7 is slightly curved, while that shown in the other views is perfectly straight.

When it is desired to lock the bag, the flap 2 is turned over the open end thereof, and by this movement the pins 13 are caused to pass through the openings 7 of the guide 4 and also through the keyhole-slots 10 of the slideplate 8. The hasp 17 is then swung upon the staple 23, thereby engaging the pins 14 with the slide, whereupon a lock is applied to the staple 23. To open the bag, it is simply necessary to remove the look from the staple 23 and to swing the hasp therefrom, and simultaneous with the movement of the hasp a disengagement is effected between the pins 14 and the slide-plate 8, and the flap 2 may then be immediately opened.

The flap 2 is provided with a handle-loop 26 for closing and opening the same.

While the form of the invention herein shown and described is what is believed to be a preferable embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the same is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, and the right is therefore reserved to modify or vary the invention as falls within the spirit and scope thereof.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a closure for mail-bags and the like, the combination with a guide provided with a series of openings, of a series of pins carried by the flap of the bag and adapted to be received by said openings, a slide-plate mounted in said guide and provided with a series of keyhole-slots adapted to receive said pins, a hasp connected to said slide-plate for moving the latter to effect a locking engagement between the same and said pins, and a spring bearing against the end of said hasp and adapted to prevent free swinging movement of the latter.

2. In a closure for mail-bags and the like, between said plate and said pins, and a spring the combination with a guide provided with hearing against said hasp and adapted to prea series of openings, of a series of headed pins vent a free swinging movement thereof. carried by the flap of said bag, and adapted In testimony whereof I afi ix my signature 5 to be received by said openings, a slide-plate in the presence of two Witnesses.

mounted in said uide and provided with a series of keyhole-slots adapted to receive said CLAYTON MCKINNEY pins, a hasp pivoted adjacent to said slidejwitnessesz plate and suitably connected thereto for mov- G. H. WEISS,

:0 ing the same to effect a locking engagement J. B. RAYMOND. 

